Service facilitating equipment



'7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5, 1950 ATTORNEY June 22, 1954 D. M.JOHNSON 2,681,814

SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENT Filed July 5, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 u v'n INVENToR. D. M. JOHNSON ATTORNEY June 22, 1954 D. M. JOHNSON 2,681,814

SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENT Filed July 5, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 I0FIG- 12 INVENToR.

D. M JOHNSON l ATTO RNEY June 22, 1954 D. M. JOHNSON SERVICEEACILITATING EQUIPMENT N 4 LO n .t RS e o m e 7 mm m hw e 2 1 .5 ,M S 78 NJ n flu 1M e s F m1 D 7 6l FIG Filed July 5, 195o FIG June 22, 1954Filed July 5, 1950 D. M. JOHNSON SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENT J-zo 227 Sheets-Sheet 5 rims ATTORNEY June 22, 1954 1h/JOHNSON 2,681,814

SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENT Filed July 5, 19,50 7 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTUR. D. M. JOHNSON ATTORNE."

June 22, 1954 D. M. JOHNSON 2,581,814

SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENT Filed July 5, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 DATEIN FRONT WHEELS INVENTOR. D. M. JOHNSON CTION ATTORNEY Patented June 22,1954 vUNITED sTATEs PATENT ori-lcs SERVICE FACILITATING EQUIPMENTDarrell M. Johnson, Thomson, Ga. Application July 5, 1950, Serial No.172,158

4 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to the scheduling and docketing of a series ofservice operations, the sum of which constitutes the fulfillment of asatisfactory service prescription indicating the requisite attention tomechanism in order to obtain maximum satisfactory operation and use ofthe same. In addition to the scheduling, the invention relates to thedistribution and integration of tasks to be performed in the fulfillmentof the servicing schedule, the selection and assignment of trained orqualified personnel to perform such tasks or services, and theallocation and listing of materials which should be used in the servicerendered.

Stated in greater detail, the invention relates to the keeping ofrecords of the above character including the simplified handling of suchrecords whether in the nature of sheets, tickets, or other data bearingor receiving material having to do with the scheduling and assignmentofl work along with the allocation and listing of appropriate materialsand personnel, and the utilization of records relative thereto in orderto simplify and facilitate the rendering of the prescribed service withminimum time loss and expense and a maximum eiiiciency, the overallresult of which inures to the benefit of all parties concerned.

Numerous types of equipment have been employed, in the conduct ofbusinesses, in which service is rendered to the public, in an eort tosimplify and otherwise improve the operation of such businesses and toreduce the confusion, irritation, and inconvenience in connection withthe same. Such priorequipment has failed to satisfactorily accomplishthe desired results although incertain elds, as in the servicing ofautomobiles, some improvement has been obtained in an occasional moreprogressiveestablishment by the keeping of a closer tab on the serviceto be performed and the actual accomplishrnent of the same with someconservation of labor and materials.

Among the objects of the invention are to overcome the above indicatedand other problems in the conduct of a business which consists largelyin the service of the public, by the provision of work scheduling andpersonnel and material allocation equipment, of simple and inexpensivecharacter and by the use of which a business enterprise as, for example,the servicing and maintenance of automobiles, may be simply, eicientlyand satisfactorily conducted, and maximum durability or life of theautomobile or other mechanical device obtained, to the advantage notonly of the customer and the servicing agency, but also to themanufacturer of the automobile because of the favorable publicityresulting from such greater life of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide the proper serviceincluding lubrication and the like'and in the caseof automobilestoimprove the smoothness of operation and riding qualities thereof, aswell as to teach or instil into the customer and the public, greatercare and consequently increased respect for the automobile or othermachinery having wearing parts, and by so doing increase theself-respect of the customer and the general public thereby promotinglocal thrift and, eventually, national and international prosperity.

Another object is to provide equipment of sufricient flexibility toenable its use in connection with nonanalogous services or courtesieswithout extra effort or expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attractive salablepackage, the contents oi which are of simple and inexpensive characterrequiring no special skill or operator in the use of the same, butinspiring greater coniidence in the employee as well as in the customerwith consequent reduction in direct supervision by the employer as wellas the elimination of waste in job transfer resulting in reducedoverhead and lower operating costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide equipment which will beof material aid or advantage in the conduct of a business and which willafford a running inventory or estimate of anticipated business and theamount of contemplated income.

A further object of the invention is to provide equipment by the use ofwhich the establishment employing the same will be more businesslike,better employer-employee relations as well as customer relations willexist, and the equipment will serve to constantly advertise the businessby reminding the customer and the public of the particular establishmentthus serving to promote, enlarge, and improve the general nature of thebusiness.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from thefollowing specification and in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a master Work sheet or basic form of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2, a set of twelve service arranged consecutively;

Fig. 3, a rear view of one of the tickets of Fie. 2;

Fig. 4, a vertical section through a ticket dispensing container;

Fig. 5, a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7, a perspective illustrating the application of the ticketdispensing container secured to the instrument panel of a vehicle;

i Fig. 8, a front elevation of a ticket exhibiting 1rack illustratingoneembodiment of this invenlon;

Fig. 9, an enlarged section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 illustrating oneway in which tension is applied to the strips to retain tickets therein;

Fig. 10, an enlarged section on the line l-I or work tickets formedbetween the strips;

Fig. 11, an'enlarged section on theline li--l'l of Fig. 8Villustratingthe manner of securing in place an indicia-bearing strip aswell as the pocket forming strips;

Fig. 12, an enlarged section on'the line l2-I2 of Fig. 8 illustratingthe ticket receiving pockets and a central indicia-bearing strip;

Fig. 13, a. front elevation similar to that bi Fig. 8 of another form ofticket exhibiting rack;

Fig. 14, an enlarged section on the line lll-I4 of Fig. 13 illustratingthe manner oi securing the strips formingV the ticket receiving pocketsin place as well as a portion of a channel member for removablyreceiving an indicia-bearing strip;

Fig. 15; an enlarged section on the line IES- l5 of Fig. 13'showing theticket receiving pockets;

Fig. 16, an enlarged section on the line iS-i of Fig. 13ish0wing thechannel for removably receiving an indicia-bearing strip and the stripin position therein, Fig. 17, a further enlarged fragmentary sectionsimilar to those of Figs. 14. and 15 but with a ticket in one of thecard-receiving pockets; Fig; 18, a fragmentary front elevation of afurther modified form of rack with a sign;

Fig. 19, a top plan viewof the rack and sign of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20, an' enlarged section on the line Zik- 20 0f Fig. 18;

Fig. 20A, a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 20 lshowing a rnodiedform of clamping means;

Fig. 2l, aV section on the line 2l-2I of Fig. 18;

Fig. 22, a section on the line 22'-22 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 23, a fragmentary perspective of a supporting upright or bracket asutilized in Fig. 20.

Fig. 24, a perspective of the letter E shown on sign in Fig. 18;

Fig. 25, a fragmentary perspective of a modied supporting uprightsimilar to that shown in Fig. 23';

Fig. 26, a front elevation of a further modied form of sign; Y

Fig. 27; a section on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26; Fig. 28, a section onthe line 28-28 of Fig. 26; Fig. 29', an' enlarged perspective of aletter having securing means slightly differentV from that shown in Fig.24; f

Fig. 30, a perspective of a modified form of sign;

Fig. 31, a perspective of" a further modified form; 1 'Y Fig'. 32, anelevational View of a device to facilitate coding of the tickets show-nin Fig. 2 and the master sheetshown in Figi; and

Fig. 33, a sectional view on the 1ine33e-33 of Fig. s2. y

Briefly stated, the invention comprises equip? ment including a masterguide or work sheetfor indicating or recording pertinent informationabout the customer as Well as the customersy needs overapredeterminedperiod of time, with a'dispensersupplied for the customersuse containing service tickets bearing. indicia for conveyinginformation correlated Vwith the Work sheet the number' ofticketssupplied being suficient for the same period of time as on worksheet and having' the services to be rendered indicated by code 'on'Vsuch tickets. structed to permit visibility of the top ticket and aportion of the data thereonv is a reminder indicating when the next triptothe service station is' to be made. Removall ofY thetop ticket Thedispenser is con-V renders the next ticket visible and so on through theentirefpack..

Also therefis provided afollowup-board or Vrack for holding the ticketsreceived from the I dispenser so that they may readily be observed andby means of which the proper scheduling of customer reminder service maybe carried out'.

The equipment also includes a work distribution and time adjustment rackfor aiding in the allocation of the work to be performed and the amountof time to be spent on the work as well as the adjustment of the` timeschedule in accordance with any variations therein. Y

With continuedreference tolthe drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 amaster work sheet or chart l0 having a verticalV Maintenance Guidecolumn il with twenty-four horizontal spaces I2 for eighteenstandardized maintenance or service items I3 and six additional spacesfor the indication of a particular service or other items requested by,the customer. l

In' addition to the Maintenance Guide column il there is avertical'Pri'ce column i4, a Mileage Interval columnA l5, a Last Mileagecolumn I6, a Next Mileage column il, a series. of twelve numbered BasisMiles columns I8, 19, 26,. 2122, 23, 2li, 25, 26, 2, 28Y and 29,respectively of' one thousand mile intervals. There is also a GontinuedMileage column Bilfrom which the gures can be transferred to Vasucceeding sheet or chart for continuing the operation when the sheet isexhausted.

Along the top of this master work 'sheet or chart are located spaces 3|,32, Stand-34 for` the Name and Address,v Phone and License number, Makeand Model andMotor and Serial number oi the car, respectively.

When a customer comes into the service station or department thereof,from him is learned approximately how many thousand milesV he drives peryear, the kind of driving that he does,

the nature of services desired, the frequency of service and allpertinent facts that will enable such service requirements to be met.If, forexample, he brings his car in with 3019 miles showing on thespeedometer and he drives twelve thousand miles a year, there shouldbeapproximately twelve mileage intervals of- 1000- miles each" during theyear. However lany number of ser-vice interval-s may be scheduled shouldsuch prove desirable. It having been found that is one of the mostfrequent service requirements this lubrication appears as the first itemin the ll/iaintenance-Guide column of services to be rendered adjacentthe numeral 1. Accordingly the desired lubrication. mileage intervall isemployed as -a basis or keyv on which the chart isset up and the mileageintervalsrat which the customer is to come in forservice. In view of thefact thatfthere: are twelve of these one-thousand mile intervals,thecalls for service are approximately thirty days apart. In the MileageInterval column the number G will be recorded, in the last Mileagecolumn 3019 will be recorded in the Next Mileage column the mileage 4019will be placed, and such marking will be continued to the end of thesucceeding Basis Miles columns.

In the Maintenance Guide'column l I, eighteen standard services areindicated and two additional special services, 19 and 20,.suchasiilushing the brake system andy lubricating lawn mowerare included.

Any operation or service not desiredV by the customer may be markedoutas Not wantedf such as the ushing the motor service asindicated by thedesignation. Operations 17 and 18, namely, transmission and differentialchange, and radiator service are seasonal, sl, meaning one change duringa year, and s2, meaning a change twice yearly.

While the lubrication operation is normally performed most frequently,certain other of the operations are intended to be performed lessfrequently. For example, item 4 in the Maintenance Guide column, namely,Repacking the Rear Springs, is to be done every three thousand miles andin the Last Mileage column the speedometer reading of 3019 is placed,and in the Next Mileage column three thousand miles is added and thespeedometer reading of 6019 is inserted and checks are placed in theBasis Miles columns at the proper speedometer readings.

After the master chart is completed by filling in the desiredinformation, such `information is supplied to the customer. The twelvecolumns or Basis Miles form the twelve maintenance visits set up for thecustomer. He is supplied with a dispensing container holding tickets,one each for the twelve maintenance visits. The `dispenser may be formedof plastic or other desired material. The twelve tickets contain incondensed coded form the information from the master Work sheet. Ofthese tickets, the first ticket I8 has a space adjacent its top beneaththe word Miles for the speedometer reading 4019 of the Basis Milescolumn `I8 at which the next visit for service is to be made. Beneaththis space there are twenty-four numerals corresponding tothetwenty-four services listed in the Mainten nanceGuide column and bychecking these numerals the service item of the master work sheet isrecorded. The ticket I8 has operations 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 checked whichmeans that when the speedometer of the automobile registers 4019 miles,the car is to be taken in for service operations 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of theMaintenance Guide column, as indicated by checks in the first BasisMiles column. The ticket I 8' is further provided with characters sl ands2 appearing over numerals I1 and I8 on this and each of the othereleven tickets to indicate that these services, namely, Transmission andDifferential, and Radiator service, are to be performed if it is theproper season. The remainder of the tickets I3 through 29' are similar,each succeeding ticket carrying a speedometer reading corresponding tothe mileage shown in the Basis Miles column, andthe respectiveoperations checked thereunder being indicated on the coded tickets.

Each of the twelve tickets on its reverse side is divided into upper,intermediate, and lower sections 35, 36 and 31, respectively. In theupper section is carried the number of the customers account, in thelower section is the number of the ticket corresponding to the number ofthe Basis Miles column, and in the intermediate section is indicated thenumber of estimated days between visits to provide a follow up reminder.It will therefore be apparent that the only` difference in these numbersis the bottom number indicating the number of the ticket.

The tickets I8 to 29 are supplied to the customer, and for convenience aplastic dispensing container 38 having a dispensing opening 39 isemployed having a slot 40 through which the ticket can be engaged andthereby removed from the dispenser. In order that the tickets can beremoved one at a time from the dispenser they are held upwardly by meansof a pair of springs` 4I in relation to the opening 39. The plasticdispenser 38 may be mounted in any desired manner as, for example, on abracket 42 secured thereto by means of rivets or other fasteningelements 43. This bracket may be attached to the instrument board 44 bymeans of a bolt or other fastening element 45 extending through theopening 46 in the bracket 42. 'Ihe instrument board is conventional andpreferably the plastic dispenser case 38 is in proximity to thespeedometer 46 having a mileage indicator 41 so that when thespeedometer is observed the dispenser 38 will likewise be observed andthe customer reminded to take his car in for service.

At the bottom of the master work chart are Date In and Mileage Incolumns 48 and 49 at the foot of the Basis Miles columns I8 through 29,inclusive, for indicating the time and actual mileage when the customercomes in. for comparison/with the Basis Miles indicated at the properperiod.

In Fig. 8 is disclosed a card or ticket exhibiting rack of aconstruction illustrative of the invention. 'I'his rack has a rear orfoundation panel 60 which may be of plywood or the like and of anydesired configuration, but which,I for convenience of illustration, hasbeen shown as substantially square.

The rear panel 60 may have an edge molding 6i there around to improveits appearance and protect the edges thereof and, if desired, thismolding may have a protecting sheath or coating of metal, plastic, orother desired material.

As shown in Fig. 8, the panel 60 may be divided into a plurality ofvertically spaced recesses by ribs.62 nailed or otherwise secured to thefront surface thereof and projecting outwardly any desired distance.Obviously, the configuration or spacing of these recesses may bechanged, as desired, without in any way departing from `the instantinvention.

In order to support a plurality of tickets on the front surface of thepanel 60 so that they can be easily observed, strips or slats 63 areprovided which, as shown in Figs. 9 to 12, are of concavoconvexformation, these strips being preferably formed of resilient sheet metalsimilar to those employed in conventional Venetian blinds but, ifdesired, the strips may be constructed of certain plastics. The stripsor slats 63 may be of any desired length corresponding to requirementsand the foundation panel or back board will be of correspondingdimensions. In this manner, the rack may be very economicallyconstructed by forming the strips from an endless length of stock anddetaching the same in desired lengths for a particular size of rack.

As shown in Fig. 10, the strips 63 are :arranged in parallel overlappingrelation with their convex sides disposed rearwardly adjacent the frontsurface of the rear panel 60. The first or uppermost strip 63 may engageone of the ribs 62 and the second or next succeeding or lower stripoverlaps the first and, due to its curvature, the upper edge thereofextends forwardly of and in spaced relation to the upper strip or slat63, thus providing a space therebetween. On account of the curvature ofthe rst or uppermost strip 63, the lower edge of the latter contacts therear surface of the second or next succeeding or lower strip 63 alongsubstantially the longitudinal center line thereof to provide asubstantially closed pocket 64 capable of receiving a relatively thinobject such as a ticket and this structure is repeated throughout thesurface of the panel 60. YIt will thus be seen that' a` plurality ofvhorizontally disposed vertically spaced ticket receiving pockets Vld'are thus-formed by the strips or slats` 63 disposed in the properposition-just described.

Y Thestripsor slats 63 may beconvenientlysecured to the foundation orbasepanel G- in any desired manner and may have vertically dis posedhorizontally spaced pressure ribs rnrmly secured in contact with theouter surface ofthe strips or slats 63 by screwsor other fasteningmeanslanchored in the panel 60; The ribs 65-` press tightly against thestrips te and at the point of engagement therewith flatten these stripsagainst the panel BEB- to firmly secure the same thereto, however;immediately adjacent the ribs 65 the resiliency of the strips 6%V issufflcient to restore the curvature thereof thereby providing sufcientspacev for Vthe insertion of tickets to be engaged and held on display.

As will be seen from an inspection of 8, thev ticket exhibiting rackis'dividedinto an up per section Si' and a lower section et, thesesectionsin turn being divided into a Yplurality of horizontally spacedsections e9 by vertically disposed l'ines- 'Eli applied tothe surface ofthe strips or'slats t3y inn any desired manner, such as by paint of acontrasting color.

, For convenience'v in locating the desired ticket orpocket 54 in whicha ticket is tof be inserted, theremay be provided inthe upper recess 'Elan indicia'fbearing strip lrhaving numbersfor other indiciarelating' tothe horizontally spaced pockets and conveniently the strip l2 maycomprise one` of the strips Se preferably with the convex face thereofoutermost, as shown in Figs.

9 andf1`0; Thestrp' 12 may be secured in position by screws 13' or otherdesired' fastening means.

VA secondl indicia-bearing strip '115;' having numbers `or other indiciarelating to the horizontally spaced pockets A in the lower section 5Smay beA disposed substantially midway of the height' of the rack,asshown in Figs. 11l and 12, This strip Ml may be secured in position bythe same ribs (5`wfhicli:y secure the strips t3 to the panel E0 andpreferably with the convex` face' of the strip thereof outermost. Y

The uppermost recess 'i5 of the vertically spacedrecesses may receiveastrip 'le ofthe same material as the strips or slats t3 andy preferablyas shown in Fig. 9, the convex surface thereof is outermost. ThefstripT6 may carry on its facea title,` advertising matter, orotherindiciaasmay be desired in' accordance with the intended use of' the lrack. Thelowermost recess 'V` may receive indicia, spare tickets', or othermiscellaneous items which. may be utilized in conjunction with the rack.

A somewhat modified form of the inventionmay beemployed as' is disclosedin Figs. 13 to 16 which differ from the disclosure of the precedingfigures mainly in that it is substantially rectangul'ar in shape, hasmarginal portions at thel sides: aswell as at the topand bottom, andinasvertical channels for receiving indicia-hearing strips instead of merelythe ribs e5. *jiny Figs. 13 to 16 a panel 'iii' is provided' with upperand lower horizontally disposed members '2'9- and similar verticallydisposed' end or side membersl Sii; the panel being preferably' providedwith an edge molding Si corresponding tothe edge molding 6l oftheprecedinglgures';

Ticket holding strips or slats B3 identical in construction to thoseutilizedl in the formof' the invention previously described; are'mountediny parallel relation as in the' structure of the preceding gures, suchstrips being securedin positionv by vertically disposed horizontallyspaced ribs 82 corresponding to but wider than ythe ribs te of Fig. 8.The ribs- 32 are secured to the panel 18 by screws S3 or other fasteningelements.

The vertically disposed ribs 32 in additionto fastening the strips orslats in place divide the rack intoa plurality of horizontally spacedareas or sections with ticket receiving pockets EllI in each section, aspreviously described. rThere is provided on each rib 82 aA channel B4secured in place by screws 33 or other fastening means, channel 84serving to removably receive and support an indiciabearing strip 85corresponding to strips or slats S3, but being disposed in the channel3d, preferably with the convex surface thereof outermost. The ribs 32vand strips may be disposed at right angles each to the other.

The use of both forms of the invention is best iliustrated in Fig. 17 inwhich av ticket 86 of any desired length is held securely after beinginserted in one of the pockets Sii. The lower portion of the ticket 86extends below the bottom edges of one or more of the adjacent strips orslats 63. Tickets of varying lengths may easily be retained in thedevice, a relatively short ticket extending slightly below the edge ofthe uppermost strip 63 forming the pocket in which the` ticket isinserted with a relatively longer ticket extending below this point, asshown in' Fig. 1'7'.Y

Due to the resiliency of the strips or slats 3-, the' ticket 8e isfirmly retained in the pocket 64 since' the lower edge of the upperstrip 53 resiliently engages the rear surface of the ticket to fric-`tionally hold the same'in place, but this'frictionaly engagement is `notsufficient to prevent the ready removal of the ticket from the rack.Likewise, the pressure exerted by the lower edge of the uppermost stripor slat t3 upon the rear surface of the nextlower strip is not suiicientto'preclude" the relatively easy insertion of the ticket 86 into' thepocket $4 without bending even with tickets of relatively thin material.The pressure is varied in accordance with tension needfo'r thick@ nessof ticket used. If desired the panel el)J or 'I8 may be omitted andtheslats 63 supported by a rectangular framework and the ribs may beduplicated on the rear in order to clamp the l slats 63 therebetween.

it will be seen that by the above-described invention there is provideda relatively simple, economical ticket exhibiting and holding rack whichmay be constructed to accommodate tickets of any desired size and saidtickets maybe rei attention on thepart of the car owner.

frequency' with whichsuch service is tov be performedv withdueY regardlfor the average mileage which the customer may drive during a givenperiod of time and with dueregard to the condi` tions of such driving',i. e. type of roads', speeds;` loading of vehicle etc.

The information relativeA to the.Y service' to be performed isentered'on` al master work sheet HP 9. there being oneof these sheetsfor each customer, the mileage intervals for service being entered inthe basis milescolumns and the particular service jobs being indicatedby check marks in the appropriate vertical and horizontal columns.

The information provided by the check marksl is entered in coded form onthe tickets shown in Fig.Y 2 by crossing out the numbers correspondingto the numbered service operations bearing a check mark on the mastersheet. At the same time three numbers are entered on the opposite sideof the ticket the upper number designating the customer each of whom isassigned a number when the master sheet is prepared, the `secondrepresenting the number of days between service visits and the third`number representing the number of the ticket which corresponds to thenumber of the vertical column on the master sheet of Fig. 1 numberedfrom 1 to 12.

The coded tickets for a given period of maintenance, for instance ayear, are placed in a transparent dispenser such as that shown in Fig. 4and the dispenser installed in the customers car adjacent thespeedometer. It is to be noted that each ticket bears a mileageindication correspondingr to the mileage indications in the bases milescolumns on the master Work sheet. The customer is informed that when thespeedometer reading corresponds with the mileage indication on theticket which is visible he should come in for service.

Upon reaching the service station the visible top ticket is removed fromthe dispenser and the service foreman prepares a work order inaccordance with the maintenance operations indicated by the crossed outnumbers on the ticket.

After completion of the work order the foreman turns the ticket over andfrom the second number appearing thereon ascertains the number of daysuntil the customers next visit and by adding that number to that daysdate ascertains the date on which the customer may be next expected.From this information the ticket with the rear face outermost is placedin the appropriate pocket 64 of the rack shown in Fig. 8.

Filing of the tickets in the rack as designated above provides a meanswhereby at a. glance the shop foreman or service manager may ascertainwhat customers are due for service and on what days and therefore moreefliciently schedule the work. This also provides visible information asto what customers are overdue thus facilitating a reminder or follow-upservice.

It will be seen that the above described system operates in a verysimple and efficient manner i and after the customer has rst indicatedhis service requirements it is only necessary for him to compare themileage indication on the visible ticket with the mileage reading on thespeedometer and take the car to the service station at the appropriatetime the correct services operation then being automatically performed.This reduces the servicemans overhead, contributes to the eiciency ofthe car and relieves the car owner of the necessity of indicating whatoperaf tions he desires performed each time he takes the car in forservice. The automatic follow-up feature provided by this system alsoguards against a lapse of memory on the part of the customer and furthercontributes to good customer relationships.

While the above-described system and usefof the rack illustrated in Fig.8 is the primary purpose therefor, nevertheless, this rack may obviouslybe utilized for many otherpurposes and in fact in any situation where itis desired to visually support a plurality of cards or tickets which maybe readily removed at any time and also, as eX- plained above, which maybe of varying dimenslons.

The rack illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16 may have many uses, but isparticularly suitable to facilitate the scheduling of repair or servicework in a garage or service station and serves to provide visualindication of the particular job on which a particular mechanic isemployed and the probable time when this job will be completed. This isaccomplished by providing cards or tickets in duplicate to be insertedin the appropriate pockets 64 provided by the strips 63, these ticketsbearing the name or number of the mechanic, the repair order number andthe work to be performed by this mechanic. The original of this ticketis placed in the appropriate pocket to indicate the starting time andthe duplicate is likewise placed in the appropriate pocket to indicatethe estimated time of completion of the job. In the event anothercustomer comes into the service station, the foreman, by a glance at theboard, could immediately tell what mechanic would be available for therequired work and when. This system would hold true provided that thetime estimates were r'eliable but in the event unforeseen circumstancesarose which prolonged the time of any particular job the clock strip ismerely moved to properly adjust the time. In the present instance itwill align with the appropriate pocket E4 holding the duplicate whichwould indicate the correct time at which the job was expected to becompleted. When the job is actually started the original ticket isremoved from the board and when the job is completed the duplicate isalso removed. This provides at a glance an indication of the workactually in progress.

It will thus be seen that by this particular modication of the inventionthe complete working day of a mechanic or any part thereof in one-halfhour or other desired intervals may be scheduled and the rack with thejob ticket inserted therein provides a quick visual indication of thework being performed in the shop and permits the shop foreman at anytime to accurately predict when a job may be finished or when a mechanicmay be expected to be available for a subsequent job.

A modied form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 18 through 25wherein an illuminated sign is employed on a rack which is somewhatsimilar to the racks illustrated in Figs. 8 and 13. The sign is of theinterchangeable bulletin type upon which is supported letters 8l whichthe user may selectively employ to change the text of the sign atconvenient intervals. As illus-l trated, the managers name may occupy animportant position thereon but the use and location of the same isoptional.

The sign comprises upper and lower plate or shelf members 88 and 39respectively and may be maintained in spaced relation by upright slatsupporting and tensioning members 9i! and 9|. The upright 9E may havestruck out portions 92 from the slots 93 so that such struck outportions or tongues may engage spaced strips or slats 9'4 whichform theface or letter-carrying portion of the sign.

If desired a trim or molding 95 may be employed at the upper and lowerportions of the sign to cover the joint between the plate members 88 and3s and the spaced strips or slats 94,

slats 94 maybe retained thereon by means'of an angularly disposed tip ortongue extremity Sl on the outward `extremity ofthe Atongue 92, therebymaintaining the partsin the proper '-assembled relation. The slats 94like ythe slats 163 of Figs. 8 and 13 are preferably of Atransverselycurved strips of sheet metal. YAlso as in the earlier figures the slats-94 Vare spaced 'fapart in a horizontal plane and thereby tend to bowoutwardly spacing themselves apartbetween the upright bracing and slatsupporting members i 9G, in which are connected Aas shown in Figs. `2-1and '22. Where the slatsV 94 are-engaged by the brackets B no horizontalvspacing of the slats will be evident. However, 'tensioning andhorizontal spacing of the slats `94 may be accomplished by thearrangement vof the braces or brackets 9%. For example, if 'the brackets'39 are spaced `'apart'as illustrated in the drawings, relative spacingbetween the slats 94 -will be'appreciable, but if the bracketsrarelocated closer together as by using a greater number of the same, a'lesser spacing of .the slats will be had providing a more severetension between the same. Y

A modified form of upright slat supporting ,or bracing member is shownatfiiil in Fig. 25. This member is providedwit'h a struck out tongue 92'having a downwardly extending lip or'extremity 91. Member 99 isalso'provided with a flange |08 to facilitate attachment to the "frameof the :sign or 'card exhibiting rack. The manner of application of themodied supporting member 91-is-shownfin Fig. 28 in which the slats'94are provided with periorations `Sii-disposed substantially along theAlongitudinal .center line thereof with the struck out portion ortongue'92" extending through `the perforation in `each lsl'at and withthe downwardly depending lip V'i' overhanging and engaging .the upperedge of the slat54 disposed immediately below the opening 96. Thisstructure serves to support'and retain the slats in prcper'operativeposition.

The location of the brackets Se is 'preferably proportionate to thelettering 'to be supported and which -iorms the message carried bythesign. -Each of the letters 3l Vis .provided with one or more rearwardlyextending arms 98 having downwardly depending legs 99, these legs to beinserted between the slats 94 for'supportingthe letters in properposition and allowinglight 4to shine through the opening thus formedtoillu'rninate the letters. The brackets 9i! may b`eoi` any desiredheight/and likewise may be-'of any desired widthgand Vthe 'numberthereof may be supplied in :accordance with the customers particularneeds. y Also, the brackets 90 and 9| may have angularly-disposedupper'and lower frange porn tions Y:Hm Yfor rigid attachment to theupper and iower'plate or shelf members and bymeans offa rivetllo'r-other fastening element extending through openings |62 in theiiange' it.

The supporting `and embracing members 8| are similar to members-9i!except that the members 9|V areprovided with 'struck out Aportions 9|Vwhich'do Anot-*engageraround the edge of the slat 12 to tclamp .theVsame H'but merely engage'bineath the 'edge'of each slat to .preventsagging of the same `or downward movement. Struck 'out .portions ortongues 9| maybe rseen in Figs. 22, 28 and 30.

Due 'to the'fiexibility of the slats 84 and the manner in which `theyare connected by the brackets 90 there maybe provided'a sharpcurve inthe sign vas :illustrated in Fig. r9 and it is in such curved portionthat vthe uprights 91 are employed which permit 4the slats 94 toIflatten lin intimate contact with the same as `shown in rFigs. :19 andV22.

'On 'the `lower plate 89 is a longitudinally `a'rranged :neon or' other4light '|04 mounted von brackets 4|05 and :powered by electrical energyfrom :a source of supply by 2a 'transformer |106 also =mounted onthelower plate 89 and deriving its energy through an-electri'c conduit |01,such ccnduithaving aplug |5i8ion the-endfof zthezsarne.-

4ita-ys of ylight emanating fromthe bulb |04 Iwill-shine between theyspaced Aslats i911 Aand :cause the :letters :81 tovbefvisibleinsilhouette or 'to :be indirectly lighted; Legs `99 sholdthe Vslats 1.94 apart and :permit vsuch illumination 4giving thecompleted sign an `.unusual 4and `artistic 'appearance aswell asaproviding'a-'distinctly 'legible and `easily readable sign.

A'further'rnodied 'form `of signis `illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27, suchsign being 'of the .simplest and most inexpensive constructionand-comprisingupperand llowergplate or shelf members I0 and I Inl "witha back 'l l2. Thelslats .9'4 have their ends attached `to forwardlyextending extremities |f|3 and V'i I4 ofthe vback by suitable `fasteningmeans :such as rivets-'or the like, the Yslats vt4 being substantiallylonger than the back H2 and such 'slats-being bent-adjacent theirendsto.' space the intermediate `portions yor" ithe :same-from the 'backand thereby fprovide a light chamber or housing. The slats are `heldinsuch 'bent rela tion by means -oi upright brackets 9| identical with"those of Fig. 22, vthe horizontal `extremities |00 Vci which are'fastened by rivets 'tti :to the upper an'dlower .plate members 1| Iiiand `Onplatemember is y'preferably longitudinally-disposed a light Vinthefiormof la tube for bulbv |04, mounted onbrackets H35, andfpowered byelectrical energy fromfa source of supply by transformer |06 alsomountedfon the lower plate liz-and 'deriving its energy through 4anelectric conduit iii'i, such conduit having a plug |08 on the end of thesame. `Rays Voilight from the tubevorbulb |04 Awill shine between thespaced slats 94 so 'that -the fsilhouette of 'any lletters 1| |15 will'be -visibl'e as Vdescribed above, v.such indirect lighting giving Ythesign a very 'attractive 'and unusual :appearance fas well as providingafsign which isk distinctly legible andeasily readable.

The lettersoithe sign-V may be Vof the'character of those disclosed Vink24.01", lif preferred, likev those of Fig. `29 wherein the 'letter H5'is provided -with'a 'rear bracket i6 oi relatively thin stripmaterialwelded or'oth'erwise secured oniits upper'endto'the upper portionof theletter '2| I5 and having a reverselybent portion fi il iat vits lowerr:end for hooking beneaththe lower edgefof af'slatto which thesame isapplied. In'applying the .fletter `'rear bracket ||6 'is insertedfbetween the slats and its lower rend ishooked beneath a slat. Theletter H5 is swung outwardlyby its.

free lower end .until the fletter is sub'stantiaily atrightfan'glesitothe main portion'of the bracket whereupon the `bracketis snappe'diover-the upper portion'of 'thefslat `mation on both thetickets 1n Fig. 30 is disclosed a modied type` of sign which consistslsubstantially of a triangular housing including a top and bottom |18and ||9 with a back, not shown, having forwardly extending fianges |9and |20 to which slats 94 are attached, the bracket 9| being employedfor assisting in holding the slats 94 in bent position. Otherwise, thesign is similar to that previously described.

In Fig. 31 is a very simple modified type of sign consisting of a box orhousing comprising upper and lower plate members |2| and |22 and endmembers I 23 and |24, such box being mounted on a frame or supportingstructure |25. Slats 94 are secured as described in the precedingfigures at the front face of the box by means of brackets 90 havingstruck-out tongues 42 with up-turned portions 91 or downturned portions91. This sign may be illuminated as previously described.

Each of the signs disclosed in Figs. 26, 30 and 31 may have an accessopening |26 in its rear with a closure |21 slidably mounted in brackets|23 Vand with an operating handle |29.

While the above signs have all been described as having a back panel orboard if desired it is only necessary to provide the rectangular orskeleton frame work to which the slats are attached since the back panelor board performs no function in supporting the side but merely providesa closure therefor and presents a iin ished appearance at the rear face.

The invention also contemplates the provision and `useiof a device tofacilitate coding of the tickets I8', etc., this device permitting thesimultaneous coding of the ticketsiand the master work sheet." As shownin Figs. 32 and 33 the coding device comprises a generally rectangularframe Work |30 this frame being provided with opposed grooves |3| toslidablyreceive a modified form of master work sheet |32. One end of theframe |30 is open to permit convenient insertion and removal of the worksheet |32. Sheet |32 is `identical with master work sheet with theexception that the vertical columns numbered 1 to 12 of work sheet l0are replaced by twelve rectangular spaces |33 each of which is identicalto one of the tickets I8.

The frame is provided with apertured ears |34 and pivotally mountedbetween these ears by a rod |35 extending therethrough is a tubularmember |36 having a plurality of arms |31, |38,

|39 and 40 extending therefrom at substantially right angles. Arm |31 isprovided with a downwardly opening groove |4| and arms |38 and |39 areprovided with upwardly extending grooves |42 and downwardly extendinggrooves |43. Arm

| is provided with an upwardly opening groove |44. Arms |31, |38, |39and |40 are provided with ,abutments 45 adjacent their inner ends thepur pose of which will be presently described.

Inthe operation of the device shown in Figs. 32 and 33 tickets I 8',etc. are inserted in the grooves |4| and |42 and likewise in theremaining grooves until the required number of tickets have beenreceived. The arms |31, |33, |39 and |40 together with the tubularmember |35 are rotated about the rod |35 to bring the tickets I8 intosuperimposed registering relation to .the spaces |33 on the master sheet|37.. At this time it is only necessary to utilize a punch to punch outthe required numbered spaces on the tickets and in the spaces |33 of thework sheet |32 thereby simultaneously recording` the coding inforand thework sheet |32 to indicate the desired service operations for each visitof the customer. This precludes the necessity for manually marking boththe master sheet and the ticketswhich is a time consuming operation andmay well result in error. The abutments |45 on the arms |31, |38, |39and |40 provide a convenient means for accurately locating the ticketsI8 when they are inserted in the grooves in the arms, thus insuringregistration with the rectangular spaces |33 on the master sheet |32.Obviously a suitable abutment will be supplied on the frame work |30 toinsure the proper location or position of the master sheet |3|.

The above described system and apparatus pro.- vides a convenient andeiiicient manner of operating a repair or service station in order tomain,- tain overhead costs at a minimum and at the same time providesfast and eilicient service for the customer and one in which thecustomer need only concern himself with providing the service man withinformation as to his service requirements at the beginning of theservicing period; the system thereafter automatically taking care of allmatters, it only being necessary for the customer to compare the mileagereading on the top ticket in his dispenser with the mileage reading onthe speedometer and take the car in for service. This system alsoprovides a convenient follow-up feature whereby the service man mayascertain which customers are overdue and contact these customers bymail or phone in order to insure that their cars are properly serviced.The apparatus also provides a convenient means for simultaneously codingthe tickets and master work sheet whereby human error is reduced to aminimum and the racks or supporting means for the tickets provideinstantly available, visible information, the scheduling rack wherebythe mechanics in the shopare assigned their work providing informationto the shop superintendent as to when work is completed, actually whatwork is in progress and enables him to accurately pre dict when aspecied job will be done and to inform a prospective customer when hiswork will probably be started. The ticket supporting. and display rackof this invention may likewise iind wide application in other fields ofendeavor, their use not being restricted to the particular serviceoperations described in this application.

The system described above together with the apparatus is relativelyinexpensive to install and in View of the very material contribution toshop efliciency and to vastly improved customer Irelationships, thefinancial standing and .sense of well being of both the service man andthel cstomer is greatly improved.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore this invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawing or` described in the specification, but only asindicated `in the appended claims.

lhaving boxes numbered in accordance with said list, said sheet alsoindicating the mileage intervals between service calls as well asspecific information regarding the customer and the aulacs-15814Y"tomoloile to be lserviced, a series of Iticket/siden- Ltical'in sizeand shape to saidfspaces-and haviing-numbered boxes corresponding to thenum- Yberedtboxes in each -of saidspaCeS, each ticket :also bearinginformation indicating the mileage fat which the service Vdesignatedshould be per- "forznedy-the name ofthe customer, the time intervalbetween-service calls and the number of theeticketfmeansvforfacilitating the simultane- .1011s recording of coded informationindicating ithe services-to be performed on both said tickets `and'saidmaster sheet comprising a rectangular frame open --at one end, groovesin opposed side bars of said frame to slidably receive and support saidmaster sheet, -a member pivotally 'mounted on said frame, 'barsextending from said -member at right angles thereto, said bars fhavingopposedgrooves to slidably receive said tickets, abutments on 'said barsto limit movevment of 'said'tickets and accurately position the 'samewith respect to said master sheetsupported in said frame, whereby upon.pivotal movement Aof said bars toward said frame the tickets carriedthereby will be disposed in superimposed `registering relationship withsaid spaces `and vcoded information may be simultaneously recorded'byNpunching out the appropriate boxes in said tickets and said mastersheet, the information on said tickets .being de-coded by comparisonwith said master sheet.

i2. Equipment for luse in the recording of .auto- Vmobile maintenanceservices :to be rendered and the planning `and performance thereofcomprising Ain combination a master work sheeet hav- ,ingindicatedthereon anumberedilist of maintenance services, a plurality of spaces,each space having'boxesnumbered in accordance with said "list, `saidsheet also indicating mileage intervals between service calls as wellasspecific informa- 'tion vregarding the customer and automobile to beserviced, `a series of tickets identical in size and shape vto saidspacesV and .having numbered boxes corresponding to .the numbered boxesin .each of said spaces, each ticket also `bearing informationindicatingthe mileage at which the services designated .should beperformed, the name of the customer, the time interval between servicecalls, and the number ofthe ticket, means "for facilitating .thesimultaneous recordingof coded information indicating the services to be5' performed on both said tickets and said master vSheet comprisingaframe, grooves in said frame to'sli'dably.receive and support saidmaster sheet, a member pivotally mounted on saidframe, bars 'extending'from said member at ,right angles thereto, said bars" havingopposed-,grooves toslid- .ably receive said tickets, abutments on saidbars to limit movement ofsaid tickets and accurately Yposition the samewith respect to said master v"sheet :supported in said frame, wherebyupon pivotal movementof said bars toward said frame the ticket `carriedthereby will be disposed in Isuperimposed registering relationship withsaid spaces and coded information-maybesimultaneously recorded bypunching out the appropriate -boxesiin said tickets'and said mastersheet, the information on said tickets being de-coded b 'comparison withsaid master sheet.

f3. Equipment for usein the recording of auto- Amobile-r'naintenanceservices to be rendered and fthe-,planning and performance thereofcomprising incombination a master work sheet having indicated thereon anumbered list of maintefnancenservices, a plurality of spaces, eachspace --having boxesfnumbered in accord-ance with said list, said sheetalso-indicating the mileage 'in tervals between service calls'as 4wellas speci'iic informationregarding the customer 'and lautomobile to beserviced, a series of ticketsidentical in size and shape toisaid spacesandfhaving numbered boxes corresponding to-the numberedboxes in each ofsaid spaces, each ticket also bearing i information indicating themileage at 4which the yservices designated should be performed, ithename ofthe customer, the time interval between service calls, and thenumber ofthe ticketfmeans for facilitating the simultaneous recordingJof coded information indicating the Vservices'tobe performed on bothsaid tickets andsaidToaster sheet comprising a frame, `means cnsaid'frame to receive and support-saidmaster sheet, aemember pivotallymounted onsaid frame, means Iextending from said A'member to -receivevand 'ac-V curately position said'tickets'with respect-to said mastersheet supported insaid framawhereby upon pivotal movement 'of said meanstoward said frame tickets carried thereby will be `disposed insuperimposed registering relationship with said spaces and codedinformation-maybe simultaneously recorded by punching out theapspacesand vhaving numbered boxes corresponding to the numbered boxes in eachof said spaces,

-each ticket also bearing information indicating the time at which theservices designated should be performed, the name of the customer, thetime 'interval between service calls and `the number .of the ticket,means for facilitating vthe simultaneous recording of coded informationindicating the services to be performed -on both said tickets and saidmaster sheet comprising a frame, means onsaid frame to receiveandsupport said master sheet, a member pivotally mounted on said frame,`means extending from said member Vto receive and accurately positionsaid tickets with respect lto said mastersheet supported in said frame,whereby upon pivotal movement of said means `toward said frame thetickets carried thereby Will be disposed in superimposed registeringrelationship-With saidspa'ces and coded information may besimultaneously recorded by punching out the Aappropriate boxes in-saidjtickets and. said master sheet,-the information on said tickets beingdecoded-by comparison withsaid master sheet.

References ACited in the file-0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber .Name Date 1,240,621 story sept. 13, .19.17 1,514,579' CorrieNov. 1, 1924 1,535,997 Y Halansky Apr. .213, 1925 1,579,471 Copony Apr.6; 1926 1,791,671 Herschel Feb. 1G, 1931 1,889,095 l-Iicks` Nov. .29,`1932 2,030,517 .Eldridge .Feb. 11,1936 2,035,920 McCoy July e, 1937

